The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-15

Hoping the encampment may be an
occasion of much usefulness, and that
It's proceedings may illustrate the high
est patriotism of American citizenship,
| am yours very sincerely.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
The following are copies of two
letters relating to the Presidents pro
posed visit to ST. Louis: First is the
letter inviting him to be present at the
meeting in that city of the Grand Army
of the Republic, and the second is his
formal letter of dcclination addressed
to the joint committee representing the
municipality, the business men of the
city and the Grand Army of the Re
public.
ST.. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb. 26, 1SS7.-7o
GroUer Cleveland, President Of the
United States --SlR: The national
encampment of the Grand Army of the
Republic will be held in this city dur
ing September next, from the 27th to
the 30th, inclusive. 1t promises TO be
the largest gathering of veterans of the
late war ever seen. The organization
was never in so hourishing condition
and the membership never so large as
at the present time. 1t will be the
first encampment located in city near
the centre of the country, and the first
ever held in the southern states. Our
people are sparing no effort to insure
for the assemblage welcome of un-
usual warmth and reception of the
most hospitable The undersigned are a
committee appointed by the general
committee on arrangements for the
purpose of extending to yourself and
your esteemed wife a cordial and urgent
invitati IN to be present on that occa-
sion and to accept hospitalities of the
committee and the city. Every exer-
tion will be made by our citizens as
well as by 100000 veterans then to be
congregated here 10 render your visit
pleasant and your stay interesting. 1t
is remarked that you are planning a
tour through the west and south and
we sincerely hope you can make it con-
venient to be in st. Louis during the
time above mentioned. Allow us to
suggest that no compliment more fit
ting could be bestowed upon the valiant
defenders of common country by the
chief executive of restored union, and
none would be more highly appreci-
ated than that conferred by his presence
at time and place. Awaiting your re-
sponse, we have the honor to be, sir,
yours respectfully,
DAVID r. Francis, Mayor of the City
of St. Louis.
FRANK GIENNIE, President of Mer-
chants Exchange.
JOHN w. NOBLE, Commander of Frank
2. Blair Post, No. l, G. A. r.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON,
July 4, 1SS7.-Io Daoid r. Francis,
Mayor Of the city Of 50. Louis, :
Frank Grennie, President Of the
Merchants Exchange, and John w.
Noble, Commander of Frank p.
Blair Post, g. Il. r., Committee :
GENTLEMEN-While l have hitherto
made no formal response to your in
vitation given in February last to my
self and Mrs. Cleveland to attend the
national encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic, to be held in
st. Louis from the 27th to the 3Oth of
September next. l have verbally in
dicated my purpose to accept it if /
should find it possible then to be alb
sent from Washington. The statement
contained in your letter that the organi-
cation was never in so tiourishlng a
condition as now, nor its membership
so large that no effort is being spared
by the citizens of st. Louis to insure a
welcome of unusual warmth at this,
the first encampment of that body ever
held in southern state, and your sug-
gestion "that no compliment more fit
ting could be bestowed upon the valiant
defenders of common country by the
chief executive of restored union and
none would be more highly appreoi-
ated than that conferred by his pres
ence at such time and place." enlist
ed my feeling and interest. More re-
Gently indications have been disclosed
that however correctly you expressed
the prevailing sentiment in the Grand
Army there are members and some
posts of that body entertaining differ
ent feelings in respect to my attend.
ance and that my acceptance of your
invitation would lead to discord in the
organization Is well as an interruption
of cordiality at the coming encamp-
ment. Without entering into a dis
cussion of these opinions and unmoved
by any feeling. although | deeply re-
gret the condition, | can but regard
it my duty to refrain from contributing
by my actions to so undesirable a re-
suit. Nothing can be of greater i'm
portance in connection with the eg
campment than the free and unrestrain-
ed manifestation hy its participants OF
that patriotic fraternity of feeling sug.
gested by the selection of the place Of
holding it, and which is at once proof
of the complete success of their arms
and the highest glory of our veteran
soldiers. | am constrained, therefore,
to withhold my purposed acceptance OF
your invitation. In doing so ] assure
you of my unleigned hope and sincere
wish that in the agreeable entertain
ment prepared by the hospitable people
OF st. Souls, the veterans of the Grand
Army may enjoy the most pleasant
profitable and useful reunion in their
history. Very truly yours,
GROVER CLEVELAND.